Date:12/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/12/stories/2008121253190300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Tiruvannamalai lights up with Karthigai Deepam, festive crowds

Staff Reporter

— Photo: D.Gopalakrishnan

Zenith of fervour: The Tiruvannamalai hills shining with Karthikai Deepam’lit atop amidst a crowd on Thursday.

Tiruvannamalai: Around 10 lakh people witnessed the Karthigai Mahadeepam being lit atop theTiruvannamalai Hills on Thursday.

Culmination

The 10-day Karthigai Deepam festival held at Sri Arunachaleswarar temple culminated with this event.

More than 10,000 people witnessed the rituals held near the golden flag mast of the temple. Devotional songs of Veeramanidasan echoed all over.

Deities of Vinayagar, Murugar, Sri Arunachaleswarar, Sri Apeethakuchambal and Chandikeshwarar were taken out of the temple and placed in the mandapam in front of the flag mast.

Bharani deepam

Earlier, Bharani deepam was lit inside the temple at 4 a.m.

A sea of devotees performed Girivalam. Puducherry Chief Minister Vaithilingam and District Collector M. Rajendran participated in the festival. IG (north zone) Ramesh Kudawala, DIG (Vellore) Thamarai Kannan, SP V.Balakrishnan were in-charge of security arrangements.